Idaho Senate passes state amphibian bill, 33-2

Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking speaks in favor of SB 1271, the bill to make the Idaho giant salamander the official state amphibian, on Wednesday. The bill passed, 33-2, and now heads to a House committee. (Betsy Russell)

The Idaho Senate has voted 33-2 in favor of SB 1271, the bill to declare the Idaho giant salamander the state amphibian. The bill now moves to the House side. The two "no" votes came from Sens. Siddoway and McKenzie; the bill was proposed by 7th grader Ilah Hickman, who's been working on it for four years and has generated support from around the state.